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Nautor 50
Designer: S&S  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Nautor 50

Built by the prestigious Finnish yard Nautor between 1976 and 1978, this rare Sparkman & Stephens design represents a brief but notable chapter in the builder's history beyond their famous Swan line. With only nine hulls completed during its short production run, the Nautor 50 stands as an exclusive alternative for discerning sailors seeking proven offshore capability. The design showcases classic S&S proportions with a moderate beam of 15.09 feet and substantial displacement of 50,926 pounds, creating the stable platform essential for serious bluewater cruising. The masthead ketch rig provides excellent sail handling options and weather flexibility, while the fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration delivers reliable directional control in challenging conditions. Her impressive comfort ratio of 51.51 reflects the generous interior volume and seakeeping abilities that make extended passages pleasant, while the conservative capsize screening formula of 1.63 confirms her ocean-going credentials. The robust fiberglass construction and Nautor's legendary build quality ensure structural integrity for demanding offshore work. This design appeals particularly to experienced sailors planning serious coastal and offshore cruising, offering the perfect blend of performance, comfort, and seaworthiness that defines the best of 1970s cruising yacht design philosophy.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 49.70 ft / 15.15 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
Beam 15.09 ft / 4.60 m
Max Draft 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Displacement 50,926.00 lb / 23,100 kg
Ballast 14,550.00 lb / 6,600 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 1,112.00 ft² / 103.31 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer S&S
Builder Nautor
First Built 1976
Last Built 1978
Number Built 9
Related Sailboats ["Swan 50 Ss" · "Swan 50 Ms" · "Cc 50" · "Gulfstar 50" · "Swan 48 2 Frers"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 13.01
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 28.57
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 431.12
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 51.51
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.63
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.21 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 0.7
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 2,021.93 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 11.22
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 59.00 ft / 17.98 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.91 ft / 6.07 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 51.25 ft / 15.62 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
SA Fore 587.35 ft² / 54.57 m²
SA Main 371.56 ft² / 34.52 m²
SA Total (100%) 958.91 ft² / 89.09 m²
Est. Forestay Length 62.27 ft / 18.98 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 115
Fuel Capacity 470 gals / 1,779 L
Water Capacity 523 gals / 1,980 L
How It Compares

vs. Cc 50, Gulfstar 50, Swan 50 Ms

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Nautor 50 ★
49.7 ft
Cc 50
49.8 ft
Gulfstar 50
50.0 ft
Swan 50 Ms
49.6 ft
LWL
Nautor 50 ★
37.5 ft
Cc 50
39.0 ft
Gulfstar 50
39.7 ft
Swan 50 Ms
37.5 ft
Beam
Nautor 50 ★
15.1 ft
Cc 50
14.5 ft
Gulfstar 50
13.7 ft
Swan 50 Ms
15.1 ft
Displacement
Nautor 50 ★
50 lbs
Cc 50
31 lbs
Gulfstar 50
35 lbs
Swan 50 Ms
51 lbs
Ballast
Nautor 50 ★
14 lbs
Cc 50
15 lbs
Gulfstar 50
10 lbs
Swan 50 Ms
14 lbs
Sail Area
Nautor 50 ★
1 sq ft
Cc 50
1 sq ft
Gulfstar 50
896 sq ft
Swan 50 Ms
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Nautor 50 ★
13.0
Cc 50
20.7
Gulfstar 50
13.5
Swan 50 Ms
13.0
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Nautor 50 ★
28.6 %
Cc 50
—
Gulfstar 50
30.0 %
Swan 50 Ms
28.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Nautor 50 ★
51.5
Cc 50
32.3
Gulfstar 50
38.9
Swan 50 Ms
51.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Nautor 50 ★
1.63
Cc 50
1.85
Gulfstar 50
1.68
Swan 50 Ms
1.63
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Nautor 50 ★
431
Cc 50
—
Gulfstar 50
250
Swan 50 Ms
431
Hull Speed
Nautor 50 ★
8.2 kts
Cc 50
8.4 kts
Gulfstar 50
8.4 kts
Swan 50 Ms
8.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Nautor 50 ★
0.7
Cc 50
2.7
Gulfstar 50
1.8
Swan 50 Ms
0.7
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